Guide fence for power tools

Abstract

A guide fence providing an adjustable gap for accommodating variously configured cutting mechanisms which includes (i) a plurality of longitudinally elongated members having a generally V-shaped cross-section, and (ii) a means for releasable coupling a plurality of nested elongated members so as to create a planar guiding surface from a first lateral side of the nested members.

I claim: 
     
       1. A guide fence comprising a longitudinally extending planar guiding surface having a first half and a second half having a gap therebetween for accommodating a cutting mechanicm, each half comprising a plurality of vertically stacked members, wherein the members are independently movable so as to be operable to adjust the size and shape of the gap to accommodate variously sized cutting mechanisms. 
     
     
       2. A guide fence comprising: (a) a plurality of longitudinally elongated members having (i) first and second longitudinal ends, (ii) first and second lateral sides, and (iii) first and second transverse surfaces wherein the first surface is laterally convex and the second surface is laterally concave, and   (b) a means for releasability coupling at least two nested elongated members so as to create a flat surface from the first lateral sides of the coupled members.   
     
     
       3. The guide fence of claim 2 wherein the longitudinally elongated members are about 10 to about 100 cm long in the longitudinal direction, about 0.5 to about 5 cm wide in the lateral direction, and about 0.2 to about 3 cm thick in the transverse direction. 
     
     
       4. The guide fence of claim 3 wherein the longitudinally elongated members are about 20 to about 50 cm long in the longitudinal direction, about 1 to about 1 cm wide in the lateral direction, and about 0.5 to about 1 cm thick in the transverse direction. 
     
     
       5. The guide fence of claim 4 wherein the laterally convex surface of each longitudinally elongated member defines a right angle having a definitive apex and the laterally concave surface of each longitudinally elongated member defines a right angle having a definitive nadir. 
     
     
       6. The guide fence of claim 4 wherein the plane defined by the first lateral side of each longitudinally elongated member is parallel to a central plane extending through the apex of the convex surface and the nadir of the concave surface on the longitudinally elongated member. 
     
     
       7. The guide fence of claim 6 wherein the planes defined by the first and second lateral sides of each longitudinally elongated member are parallel. 
     
     
       8. The guide fence of claim 4 wherein the plurality of longitudinally elongated members comprise at least three longitudinally elongated members which are substantially dimensionally identical. 
     
     
       9. The guide fence of claim 3 wherein the plurality of longitudinally elongated members comprise at least five longitudinally elongated members which are substantially dimensionally identical. 
     
     
       10. The guide face of claim 4 wherein the coupling means is a clamp comprising (i) a longitudinally extending base having an upper surface operable for nesting against one of the transverse surfaces of a longitudinally elongated member, (ii) a sidewall extending substantially transversely from the base which presents a longitudinally elongated, flat bearing surface, and (iii) a means for applying clamping pressure upon a plurality of transversely nested longitudinally elongated members stacked upon the base of the clamp with the second lateral surface of the members facing the sidewall of the clamp so as to retainably force the members against the base and the sidewall of the clamp and thereby define a flat guiding surface from the first lateral sides of the stacked members. 
     
     
       11. The guide fence of claim 7 wherein the coupling means is a clamp comprising (i) a longitudinally extending base having an upper surface operable for nesting against one of the transverse surfaces of a longitudinally elongated member, (ii) a sidewall extending substantially transversely from the base which presents a longitudinally elongated, flat bearing surface, and (iii) a means for applying clamping pressure, at an angle of about 45° with respect to the bearing surface, upon a plurality of transversely nested longitudinally elongated members stacked upon the base of the clamp with the second lateral surface of the members facing the sidewall of the clamp so as to retainably force the members against the base and the sidewall of the clamp and thereby define a flat guiding surface from the first lateral sides of the stacked members. 
     
     
       12. The guide fence of claim 4 comprising two coupling means operable for separately coupling at least two nested elongated members so as to create a first flat surface from the first lateral sides of the coupling members within a first of the coupling means and a second flat surface from the first lateral sides of the coupling members within a second of the coupling means. 
     
     
       13. The guide fence of claim 12 further comprising a means for longitudinally aligning the first and second flat surface. 
     
     
       14. The guide fence of claim 13 wherein the longitudinal alignment means laterally positions at least one of the coupling means.